Chandigarh: In a significant administrative development, the Government of Punjab has forwarded a revised panel of 10 officers — four IAS and six PCS officers — to the Chandigarh Administration for deputation, from which one IAS officer and two PCS officers will be selected for posting in the Union Territory administration.
The move comes as Chandigarh seeks to address an ongoing bureaucratic shortage and strengthen administrative functioning through deputation from neighbouring states.
According to official sources, the revised panel was sent after the Chandigarh Administration sought fresh recommendations from Punjab following anomalies in earlier lists submitted by both Punjab and Haryana.
Four IAS Officers Sent by Punjab for Chandigarh Deputation
The IAS panel forwarded by Punjab includes four officers from the 2013 and 2014 batches:
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- Harpreet Sudan (2013 batch)
- Amit Talwar (2013 batch)
- Preeti Yadav (2014 batch)
- Jaspreet Singh (2014 batch)
Among them, Amit Talwar is the only officer promoted to IAS from the Punjab Civil Services cadre, while the other three officers are direct IAS recruits.
Amit Talwar Only Officer with Prior Chandigarh Experience
Among the four names, Amit Talwar holds a distinct advantage because he has previously served in Chandigarh Administration.
During his earlier deputation, he handled several key assignments including:
- Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC)
- Director, Transport
This prior Union Territory experience makes him one of the most administratively familiar candidates for Chandigarh’s functioning.
The remaining three officers — Harpreet Sudan, Preeti Yadav and Jaspreet Singh — have not previously served in Chandigarh.
All Four Have Served as Deputy Commissioners in Punjab
Despite differing UT exposure, all four IAS officers have held major field-level assignments in Punjab, particularly as Deputy Commissioners.
Their district-level experience includes:
- Harpreet Sudan – Deputy Commissioner of Amritsar
- Amit Talwar – Deputy Commissioner of Amritsar
- Preeti Yadav – Deputy Commissioner of Patiala
- Jaspreet Singh – Deputy Commissioner of Jalandhar
Their district administration experience is expected to weigh significantly during scrutiny.
Six PCS Officers Also Nominated
Alongside the IAS panel, Punjab has also forwarded a panel of six PCS officers, from which two officers will be selected for deputation.
The PCS officers nominated are:
- Avneet Kaur
- Avikesh Gupta
- Balbir Raj Singh
- Ravinder Singh Arora
- Inder Pal
- Deepankar Garg
These names will undergo similar scrutiny before final selection.
Final Selection to Be Taken at Highest Level
Sources in Chandigarh Administration said the final decision on deputation will be taken at the highest administrative level.
The final approval will be made by:
Gulab Chand Kataria
As Governor of Punjab and Administrator of Chandigarh, Kataria will decide which officers from the 10-member panel will be inducted into UT administration.
Selection Based on Multiple Administrative Parameters
Officials indicated that officers will be examined on several criteria before final selection, including:
- Work experience
- Professional reputation
- Service conduct
- Past service record
- Administrative suitability
- Overall image in government service
Sources said the process could take between one and ten days, depending on scrutiny and approvals.
Fresh Panels Sent After Earlier Lists Returned
The current revised panel was sent after Chandigarh Administration recently returned earlier panels received from both Punjab and Haryana due to administrative anomalies.
While Punjab has now sent a corrected list, the Haryana government is yet to submit a fresh panel of HCS officers.
This has delayed Chandigarh’s broader deputation process.
Why Chandigarh Is Seeking Deputation Officers
The deputation exercise is part of Chandigarh Administration’s effort to address shortages in key administrative positions.
As a Union Territory, Chandigarh regularly depends on deputed officers from Punjab and Haryana for senior administrative roles.
The fresh panel is expected to strengthen:
- Revenue administration
- Urban governance
- Transport management
- Field administration
- Secretariat coordination
A Closely Watched Bureaucratic Selection
The selection is being closely watched because deputation to Chandigarh often leads to strategically important postings and broader administrative visibility.
Among the IAS officers, Amit Talwar’s prior UT experience may influence the decision, though all four candidates possess strong district-level administrative credentials.
